The most usual causes that delay ordinary starting operation of your Audi A4 are dead 12v battery, rust on battery terminals, dead finger operated button key battery, compromised alternator, jammed fuel filter, busted starter, blasted fuse, vacant gas tank, immobilizer issues, or any defects in the electrical mechanism. We will discuss some of the common reasons below.
Common Reasons My Audi A4 Won’t Start
Starter motor malfunctioning –
A motor is a starter required for starting the engine of your A4. The normal life of a starter motor is from 100,000 to 150,000 miles. The life gets reduced if the engine is used more regularly.
In most cases, because the starter motor has a short life, it collapses down after driving the car for a longer period, when the starter motor collapses down, the engine would not start.
Hint: When you try to start the engine of your A4, you may hear a ticking sound, which is the sound of a compromised starter motor. When the starter motor does not have a healthy battery to work with, you can guess that it is a defect of the starter. When the starter malfunctions, it mostly needs to be changed.
Momentary fix:
If the engine would not start because of the starter, the engine will start when you twist the key when pressing the starter motor with a metal instrument. This fix works when the components inside the motor are jammed together or if the gears are a little misaligned.
Though, it is safe to assume that the motor will be dead very soon, so it is suggested you have it examined at a dealer alternative service center or Audi repair workshop.
Jammed Fuel Filter –
The fuel filter of the Audi A4 does not collapse like a mechanical component. It gets jammed by dust and airborne dirt and jams as time goes on.
The quality of the filter falls, and the fuel pressure too. To some point it would not matter too much, only when the fuel filter is too jammed, the engine can no longer work at full capability, mostly it would not even start. Washing is not an option sometimes; so you have to change the filter.
Fragile battery –
If the engine does not grump or grumps very lazily, the most possible culprit is a dead 12v battery. Examining thoroughly and doing a battery voltage check will answer if the starting problem is caused by the battery. The test to do is to evaluate the voltage among the battery poles, note down the acid level and check the condition of the starter battery.
In case it is a new battery, the battery probably has not drained its full capability. A new battery only expands its full capability after some time.
Check 12v battery:
The voltage of the Audi A4 battery can be noted down correctly with a multimeter. Set the multimeter to the voltage range of the A4 battery and make sure it is connected to the plus and minus points.
Testing the voltage mostly results in an amount of roughly 12 – 13 volts. If it is above 14 or below 11.5, It’ll be good to have a mechanical evaluation of the car battery condition. If the battery has an issue, then you should go for a battery replacement.
How to jump-start Audi A4:
When a dead battery is a cause for the failure of your A4, you can mostly jump start it utilizing the jumper cables and a working battery from another car, or you can use a battery booster.
Firstly, you have to connect the red cable to the positive terminal of your A4’s dead battery, then to the positive terminal of the working battery. After that, link the black cable to the negative terminal of the working battery, then link it to the bare metal in the engine area of your A4.
Now start the working car and then start your A4. Take off the wires in the opposite order.
Blasted fuse –
In some cases, a blasted fuse may be the reason for the collapse of your A4. Test all fuses necessary to start the engine. Using your hand in the fuse box is not recommended. Do the fuse box repairs and tests in a workshop to be safe.
Failure of the engine –
In some rare cases, engine failure can also be the reason for the collapse of your A4. When a vehicle’s engine fails, no other thing works. It is not unusual for the driver to be liable for this fault.
Usual reasons consist of tearing the timing belt off, inaccurate fuelling, superheating of the engine, not enough oil, hydro lock, regular reckless driving and not keeping it under regular maintenance. Only an expert auto technician can identify engine failure in a maintenance workshop.
Malfunctioning spark plugs –
If the spark plugs are not working, the engine won’t start as well. Mostly the spark plugs are not impacted by an issue. The plug connections over the ignition get loose. If there is only one plug detached, you can repair the issue by yourself. But when the spark plug has failed, it has to be changed in the maintenance workshop.
Faulty alternator –
The alternator is like a generator for the car that creates electricity. If your alternator goes bad, it cannot create electricity anymore, and therefore you can’t recharge the battery. In case you think the reason is a battery failure and change the battery, that new battery will also expire plus the problem will remain unsolved.
Alternators do not collapse that often. Research says, newer cars have advanced stability and enhanced functions, and they carry on from 200,000 to 300,000 miles smoothly.
But it can collapse based on its usage, and if it’s a second-hand car, the alternator is probably very old. When the alternator collapses, it has to be changed with a brand-new alternator.
Failure of the fuel pump –
When A4’s fuel pump malfunctions, the engine would not start either. The pump usually makes sure that the required amount of fuel is going to the injection system from the tank with enough pressure.
Before the fuel pump issue, you can easily notice it: when your engine collapses very often, it is very hard to start the car at first, uncommon jerking of the engine and the engine function drops, then you might want to have your pump tested.
Pollution of the pump is mostly the reason for this. If the pump has a leakage, a power contact could be faulty, a line or a pump lever is busted, the fuel pump is mostly also observable before it fails. Change the flawed fuel pump in your preferred workshop.
Animal damage –
Animal damage may be a cause of why your Audi A4 won’t start. Some animals lay under the car and bite the cables and wires. This will impact all car systems like the power supply, the fuel supply, and also the oil supply.
The animal damage can mostly be seen easily by looking inside the engine area with a torch. The harm caused by the animal bites is repairable if you take it to a professional service center.
Conclusion –
There are various reasons why your A4 can not start. While looking for the issue, begin with the most common reason, the empty or dead battery. In all cases, it is recommended for the car owner to call a car maintenance service or someone you might know.
